Chilean President Accused of Human Rights Abuse

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A court in Santiago, Chile has accepted a complaint against the country’s president, Sebastián Piñera, for human rights abuse committed by law enforcement agents as a result of demonstrations that paralyzed the country over the past three weeks and left 20 dead.

In response, Piñera said he “has nothing to hide”.

“We have shown the numbers in full transparency because we have nothing to hide,” said the Chilean president, arguing that all culprits will have to pay for their crimes, whether they are members of national security forces or ordinary citizens.

The charges, brought by a group of lawyers representing human rights organizations, seek to have Sebastián Piñera’s involvement as the perpetrator of human rights abuse investigated as a result of the violations reported in the country since October 18th, when the armed forces took to the streets to contain and repress the protests.

According to the action, the president would be held accountable, “as a perpetrator, as head of state as well as for all perpetrators, concealers or accomplices of human rights abuses”.

On October 18th, Piñera declared a state of emergency and called on the Armed Forces and the ‘carabineros’ (Chilean police) to ensure the safety of citizens.

However, members of these forces are alleged to have committed at least nine types of crimes, including murder, torture, unlawful arrest, sexual abuse, rape, and blinding more than 150 people from rubber bullets shot at them. The National Institute of Human Rights has so far found 1,778 injured and some 5.000 people detained.

The complaint against Piñera was accepted by judge Patricio Álvarez and the matter was referred to the Prosecutor’s Office for investigation.

According to the indictment, these violations were confirmed by several national and international human rights organizations, such as the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), which denounced the crimes against the population at the time when it was exercising its right to demonstrate.

Source: Agência Brasil